Elvis. James Dean. Madonna. The Beatles. Miley Cyrus.
They all have one thing in common. They were or are the teen idols of their generation.
Today's teen idols are getting younger and younger, closing the age gap between them and their adolescent fans. Meanwhile, increased technology is fueling society's fascination with the rich and famous. The latest pictures, news, gossip -- good and bad -- are all available within moments thanks to Google.
Since teen idols appear larger than life, and adolescents look to them for guidance on how to be popular and successful, it can be hard on kids and parents when celebrity role models fall from public grace. Whether it be appearing nude, underage drinking or having public arguments with a lover, questions are raised. And how they're handled, can make a difference.
Miley Cyrus, 16, sold out 70 concert venues last year, some within moments of tickets going on sale. She recently released her third top-selling album, "Breakout," which came less than two years after her debut as Hannah Montana on the Disney channel's hit show.
Further, over 13,000 people showed up in New York City to hear Miley perform a four-song set for "The Today Show." The event went down in history as the first time 48th Street had to be closed to accommodate a concert.
So, it's a bit of an understatement to say pre-teens and teens are enthusiastic about "Hannah Montana: The Movie" hitting the big screen on April 10. Promotional
trailers are already running on television.
Denise Schuchat of New Fairfield has three daughters -- Anna, 9, Maria, 6, and Adrienne, 4 -- who are all very excited about the upcoming premiere.
"Hannah Montana is everywhere, you can't even go to the toy store and not be attracted to her things," Schuchat said. "Not a day goes by that I don't hear her or the kids singing (her songs) in our house."
"I think the initial attraction is probably that she is beautiful and funny and she has a good voice; they like her music," she said.
The movie is about the struggle Miley Stewart, played by Miley Cyrus, goes through while attempting to juggle school, friends and her secret pop-star persona Hannah Montana, once Hannah Montana's popularity begins to soar.
In the movie, Miley has to choose between which of her two identities she wants to maintain.
"I do like the fact that (Miley) has two different lives (on the show)," said Anna Schuchat. "I think she should stay with what she is right now."
But if she had to choose, "she should be Miley and perform as Miley."
Anna said she wants to be an actress when she grows up because she really likes Miley, as well as Selina Gomez from the Disney channel show "Wizards of Waverly Place."
In the movie, Miley's father, played by her real father, takes her back to their family's roots in Crowley Corners, Tenn. While the movie is fiction, there are clear parallels drawn to Miley's real life. Filming not only takes place in her real-life hometown of Nashville, but some scenes are shot on the family's farm, where Miley lived until she was 13. Publicists say this played a duel role in allowing Miley to be back home, after experiencing her fast ascent to fame.
"I think she is an average kid right now, I think she's got a good solid family background; I'm sure she's enjoying herself right now, with the music and movies," Schuchat said.
She said she believes Miley is a good role model, despite the 2008 photo spread of her in Vanity Fair (taken by Annie Leibovitz), where she appeared to be naked under a sheet. (She wasn't.)
"Everybody makes mistakes, and I don't think shes turned a bad corner because of it -- I think she's a good person," Schuchat said. "I do think her coming out and speaking about it and apologizing (was) respectful."
Schuchat said while her 6- and 4-year-olds tend to be oblivious to celebrity gossip, Anna, her 9-year-old, does pick up tidbits in the newspaper and on TV.
Some professionals advise parents not to ignore the bad things teen idols do, but rather to use their negative publicity as points to teach children right from wrong. Chances are with today's technology, kids will find out the news sooner or later, and it's important to take steps and talk to them about what's going on, so they don't become desensitized to bad behavior.
One important thing to remind adolescents is that actors are different people on and off screen. They get paid to pretend to be someone they're not. It's OK for children to emulate someone on TV, as long as they realize that person is a fictitious character.
Phyllis Tranzillo, a guidance counselor at Broadview Middle School in Danbury, who has worked in Danbury schools for the last 40 years, said younger kids are more vulnerable to influence by pop culture stars. Sometimes that influence involves fashion.
Danbury's public schools have a general code of appropriate clothing, which officials say is often tested and pushed by adolescents and teens. There is a fine line between freedom of expression and school rules, one official said. The problem is that students' attitudes often noticeably change with their clothing.
"I absolutely have noticed the (change in the) way kids dress, with plunging necklines ... it's almost a losing battle; if you get past a certain number of people dressing like that it's hard to control," Tranzillo said. "For the past few years, since Britney Spears really, that changed the way young girls dressed, and it became a problem for us (at school)."
But she wonders if the trend goes in the other direction, too.
Many younger celebrities, including the Jonas Brothers and Miley, have publicly committed to abstain from sex until marriage.
"I found that interesting because (Miley's) actions and her dress say something else, the way she dances (is suggestive)," Tranzillo said, although a lot of dancing is provocative these days.
For now, Schuchat is happy with Miley Cyrus as her girls' current idol, saying she's better than many of the alternatives. She feels Disney channel actresses tend to have a more kid-friendly image over those on some other stations.
"The shows that they're watching on Disney are more wholesome and pure," she said, adding her girls are too young for shows focused on teen romance.
Source: newstimes.com
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